Under Cover Of Darkness, Precinct's Special "Midnight" Team To Combat Auto Theft And Vandalism

This is just one of the many photos sent to Sheepshead Bites of cars with stolen tires. It was taken on February 20 by Sergey K. on Shore Parkway, a roadway frequently targeted by wheel/rim thieves.

Local car-owners feeling threatened by ongoing vandalism in the area, fear no more. Deputy Inspector Georgios Mastrokostas of the 61st Precinct recently launched a “Midnight Conditions Team” to catch criminals who steal or vandalize autos under the cover of darkness in the Sheepshead Bay area.

“We are targeting car-related crimes such as vehicle break-ins, graffiti, flattening of tires, stealing GPS, rim/tire theft, breaking mirrors and other illegal misconduct,” said Officer Amber Cafaro of the 61st Precinct’s Community Affairs Unit. “The officers in charge of this project are highly-decorated, have impeccable expertise and know what they are doing. The officers will try to figure out patterns and trends and will have people target a specific type of car.”

In the 28-day period covering the month of February, there has been a total of eight vehicle thefts in the area. During the same time period in 2010, there was a total of 12, down by 33 percent. But authorities note that the numbers are constantly fluctuating and don’t tell the full story. One thing is for sure, though: auto break-ins and vehicle-related property theft rank among the most common crimes in the precinct.

Despite the new nighttime patrol keeping us – and our property- safe while we sleep, Mastrokostas reminds the public not to leave valuables in your car or your car unlocked (which authorities say happens quite often). Change in the cupholder or a sign that a GPS might be in the vehicle – like the dashboard mounting clip – could give a thief incentive to break in.

The 61st Precinct Community Council meets tonight at 3093 Ocean Avenue at 7:30 p.m. The council offers residents the opportunity to speak with the deputy inspector and share concerns about neighborhood safety.

Going from 12 to 8 stolen vehicles is not a good record. Yes it’s 33% less fine but I’m not Bloomy Office you can’t bullshit me with bureaucratic stats. Drop from 12 to 8 cars could result from having too many snow days. No one steals cars when you can’t drive away in them or it’s too simply to cold to go out. So this is bullshit stats.
I want followup to this story in 3 month. I call BS on this whole thing. My cars have been stolen broken in, shot at with bb gun and scratched for decades. Nothing has ever been done. I stopped ever reporting car related incidents to cops since late 90’s.

Why in the world would you stop reporting it? Even if nothing gets done, there should still be a record that something happened. Otherwise you’re messing with the statistics in favor of erroneously showing less crime is going on, not more – which is what you’re complaining about in the first place.

calling the police over someone keying your car would only help with insurance claims, wont do anything for justice :(

Faba

Dude it took 3 weeks before fr some fuck nut shit bb gun at my 3 week old car. The sad thing is he was a bad shot too, he was aiming at the glass window.

HEY BOO

LOL that was your car?

Faba

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Einstein.

Their were 0 results from making those results. So I stopped.

I hope 61 Precinct cops reading this blog. I want them to know that not once in my life were they helpful in any possible way. I am not speaking for everyone, just myself. It is very sad too, I do not hate cops but I can not rely on them.

And I’m not even black! :)

Faba

results= reports

Anonymous

I’ve had two very good experiences with the 61 during very hard times.

I wish I had taken pictures and sent them in but a few weeks ago the nissan maxima parked on my street (Voorhies ave) had its tires stolen in the same fashion as the honda above. Probably done by the same individuals.

BEWARE

THE GUYS STEALING WHEELS/ MIRRORS/ HEADLIGHTS ARE THE SAME GYPSIES THAT ROAM AROUND IN THEIR STOLEN CARS WITH EXPIRED CALIF/NC/ TEXAS PLATES SELLING ROLLED BACK ODOMETER JUNK CARS AND OFFERING TO FIX DENTS ON YOUR CARS. THE 61 PCT FAILS TO DEAL WITH THESE GUYS BECAUSE THEY ALL HAVE FAKE IDs AND THEY ARE INCOMPETENT TO LOCK THEM UP. THE USSUALLY OPERATE AROUND AVE Y AND E16 BY THE CAR WASH WHERE THE MEXICAN GUY GETS A RUSSIAN GUY TO ROLL BACK THE ODOMETER, AND THEN BUYS THE STOLEN GOODS FROM THEM….SHAME ON THE 61 PCT. IF YOU WERE SOLD A STOLEN CAR DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THE 61 PIGGIES, GO STRAIGHT TO THE BROOKLYN DISTRICT ATTORNYs OFFICE AND FILE A REPORT.